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Users Manual
VERSION 2015.01
Table of Contents
Quick Start Guide 4
OVERVIEW 11
PANEL AND DISPLAY 12
BUTTON FUNCTIONS 13
RetinaEngrave 3D Pro Activation 16
OVERVIEW 17
VALIDATION WALKTHROUGH FOR NEW CUSTOMERS 17
VALIDATION WALKTHROUGH FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS
(SOFTWARE UPGRADE) 19
OFFLINE VALIDATION PROCEDURE 19
VALIDATION INCOMPLETE - MORE INFORMATION REQUIRED 20
Software Interface 22
OVERVIEW 23
USING RETINAENGRAVE 24
AUTOMATIC WHITE SPACE CROPPING 26
PRINTING SIZE 27
DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR INTERFACE FEATURES 28
Engraving 34
OVERVIEW 35
RASTER ENGRAVE TAB 35
DPI SELECTION 38
GETTING BETTER RASTER RESULTS 39
CASE STUDY: THE EFFECTS OF UP-SCALING FOLLOWING
DIRECT PRINT 41
Cutting 44
OVERVIEW 45
VECTOR CUT TAB 46
DESIGNATING LAYERS 48
WORKSPACE TOOLS 49
Advanced Functions 50
OVERVIEW 51
ENGRAVE THEN CUT 51
ROTARY ENGRAVING 54
3D ENGRAVING 55
The Design Tab 57
OVERVIEW 58
DESIGN TAB FUNCTIONALITY 58
Appendix 61
Quick Start
Guide
This section will guide you through installing the software and driver
6GB of RAM
The Hobby Advanced can connect to your computer via either Ethernet or USB (but not both simultaneously). Full
Spectrum includes an Ethernet cable in the laser accessories and recommends the use of Ethernet cables as USB is
more prone to electrical interference.
Your laser must be connected to your computer in order to download jobs. The laser can store jobs in its onboard
memory while powered, however loss of power will cause stored jobs to be lost. If you purchase and install a miniSD
card, you can download jobs to your laser and run them without a computer attached (however you will not be able
to alter the job settings from the laser control panel). Because an SD card is not volatile memory, jobs are stored
between power cycles.
NOTES:
If your laser is located more than 6ft from your computer, you will need to use the
Ethernet connection.
Connecting via Ethernet while the power is on requires you to power cycle your
machine in order to obtain an IP address.
INSTALLING RETINAENGRAVE 3D
1. Follow the instructions on the included software download sheep to login and download the latest
version of RetinaEngrave (.zip archive of several files)
2. Extract the installation executable (current version as of this writing: RetinaEngrave3D-4.32.9122.exe)
to a folder of your choice
3. Run the executable. Make sure to allow access to the internet and allow the program to make changes
to the hard drive.
7. Select the type of installation you would like. The Full Installation is recommended.
8. The installation can take several minutes to complete. Once it is finished you will be able to open
RetinaEngrave and make simple designs or start printing to the software directly from other applications.
Network Connectivity
NOTES
Please note that in order for your laser to connect to RetinaEngrave3D, RetinaEngrave must
have networking privileges. You may have to modify the permissions of RE3D in your antivirus
software and/or your Windows security settings to give it explicit permission to access the
network and internet.
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Control Panel
Interface
This section will guide you through the basic functions of your laser
Overview
Your Laser system is powered by our advanced 3D PRO controller, which can perform basic functions (alignment
and test) without requiring a PC connection. Installation of a microSD card will allow you to permanently store jobs
created in our RetinaEngrave software on your laser and thus free up your PC for more important tasks (like surfing
the internet).
Once you have prepared a job in RetinaEngrave, you can start the job immediately or download the job to the
onboard memory of the laser. To run a downloaded job, there is an additional step of loading the job in the
controllers memory before pressing go. This is done using the LCD touch panel:
1. Press the Mode Select button (FS/Z) until the MODE field reads FF.
2. The SELECTION field should read filename.bin, where filename is the name of the job file you loaded.
3. Press the Start/Cancel button (button 6) to load the job.
4. Press the Start/Cancel button again to run the job.
The LCD touch panel also allows you to control the basic functions of your laser without needing to connect a PC.
This is very convenient during alignment and testing procedures.
NOTES
If the laser system does not find a DHCP server while booting, it will assign itself an
IP address. This address is displayed on the screen after bootthe self-assigned IP
does not change between power cycles.
The panel uses capacitive sensing which requires contact with skin to operate.
The panel is quite sensitive and can often sense changes through thin fabrics
(a cotton shirt). Please take note of this and avoid leaning on the panel during
maintenance.
The control panel interface is mode-based, meaning that each buttons function
depends on the currently-selected mode.
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The SELECTION field is located on the top line and gives information on the current operation mode of the
laser
The MODE field is located on the far left of the lower line and tells the operator the current mode
The POWER field displays the laser power on a scale of 0-255. During a job you can adjust from 0-255 on
the fly using the up and down arrows. It is located to the right of the MODE field.
The ADDRESS field displays the last 3 digits of the IP address with a character prefix. A prefix of A means that
the laser did not find a DHCP server on its network and self-assigned an IP addres. The D prefix means the
laser found a DHCP server.
The POWER field displays the laser current in mA, or LOff for current less than 1mA. Sometimes this field will
display 1.1mA even when the tube is off; in general, anything less than 2mA is considered off.
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Button Functions
Panel function buttons are numbered 1-6 starting from the left. Jog buttons (arrow pad) continue the numbering from
7 starting at 12 oclock and counting up counterclockwise. Typically the icons on the top line are active during Fast XY
Jog (Mode 0). The icons on the bottom are typically active during Alignment (Mode 2).
The SELECTION field is located on the top line and gives information on the current operation mode of the
laser
The MODE field is located on the far left of the lower line and tells the operator the current mode
The POWER field displays the laser power on a scale of 0-255. During a job you can adjust from 0-255 on
the fly using the up and down arrows. It is located to the right of the MODE field.
The ADDRESS field displays the last 3 digits of the IP address with a character prefix. A prefix of A means that
the laser did not find a DHCP server on its network and self-assigned an IP addres. The D prefix means the
laser found a DHCP server.
The POWER field displays the laser current in mA, or LOff for current less than 1mA. Sometimes this field will
display 1.1mA even when the tube is off; in general, anything less than 2mA is considered off.
DURING SETUP
1. FS/Z (MODE SELECT)
a. Toggles between modes
b. Fast XY Jog (Mode 0) -> Slow XY Jog (Mode 1) -> Alignment (Mode 2) -> File Select (Mode 3) -> Factory
Reset (Mode 4)
2. LOCK/UNLOCK
a. Locks or unlocks the drive motors. System cannot jog or test fire while unlocked, but laser head can be
positioned by hand.
3. HOME
a. If in Fast XY (Mode 0) or Slow XY (Mode 1) pressing this button will cause the laser head to seek the
home position. After homing, the laser will know the position of the head. Unlocking the motion system
causes the unit to forget position (it must be re-homed).
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4. RETURN/TEST FIRE
a. In Fast XY (Mode 0) or Slow XY (Mode 1) the laser will move to the previously saved job start position.
b. In Alignment (Mode 2) this button fires a short-duration pulse designed to mark thermal paper.
5. RUN PERIMETER
a. In Fast XY (Mode 0) the bounding perimeter of the job will be shown quickly (RetinaEngrave software
must be started/loaded with a job for this function to be active).
b. In Slow XY (Mode 1) the bounding perimeter of the job will be shown slowly.
6. START/CANCEL
a. In any menu mode (File Select or Factory Reset) this button will select the option displayed in the
SELECTION field.
b. Cancels a move operation (homing, autofocus or a running job).
c.
In Fast/Slow XY, with the laser UNLOCKED, this fires a higher-power test pulse.
d. In Fast XY, pressing this button after the laser homes will rapidly move the head to the upper left corner
of the workspace.
e. In Slow XY, pressing this button after running a job will allow you to re-run the same job.
7. JOG BUTTONS (4)
a. In Fast or Slow XY (Modes 0 and 1), the buttons move the laser head left/right and front/back.
b. In File Select (Mode 3) the up and down buttons scroll through the loaded jobs.
DURING A JOB
1. Only the LOCK/UNLOCK and CANCEL buttons function. All other function buttons are disabled.
a. LOCK/UNLOCK pauses/resumes the job.
b. CANCEL cancels the job.
2. UP/DOWN JOG BUTTONS allow you to adjust the job power on the fly. Scale is from 0 (no power) to 255 (full
power).
MODES
FAST XY JOG (MODE 0) AND SLOW XY JOG (MODE 1)
Use the jog buttons to move the laser head. Press the home button to index the laser head.
ALIGNMENT (MODE 2)
Use this mode during tube testing and mirror alignment. The test fire button fires a short-duration laser pulse
that will mark thermal paper. Use the jog buttons while the motors are locked to jog the head. Unlock the
motors to move the head by hand. The test fire function is enabled while the motors are unlocked. The test
pulse will not fire with the magnetic safety interlock open.
FILE SELECT (MODE 3)
Navigate through .bin job files that are loaded on a microSD card (not included). Use the up and down jog
buttons to scroll through the list and press the Start button to load the job. Press the Start button a second
time to run the job.
FACTORY RESET MODE (MODE 4)
Use this mode to reset the lasers IP address settings to the factory defaults. Useful if you assign a static IP
but can no longer connect.
NOTES
The Hobby Laser controller has 2 hard stops and 2 soft stops on the limits of the
axes. Soft stops prevent the motion system from attempting to move beyond its
mechanical limits, but require a reference in order to work: the laser must be homed
in order for the soft stops to function properly.
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16
RetinaEngrave 3D
Pro Activation
This section will guide you through validating your software
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Overview
If you are a new customer, your lasers control card is shipped with an 80-hour temporary usage authorization. If you
are an existing customer, this information will apply if you update your softwareafter the update you will have 80
hours to activate your card. The 80 hours are only counted while the laser is ON. During the temporary usage period
you must connect your laser to your PC while it is connected to the internet and validate your card. Control card
activation is a one-time process. This section will walk you through the validation process.
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8. Fill out the fields on the validation screen with the requested information. This information should match or
be close to the information you supplied with your order. If it is not, we may need to request clarification from
you. Fields with a * are required.
a. Your order number (optional; 3 or 9 digits, emailed to you from GoogleCheckout).
b. Contact person/company (first and last name).
c. Contact email (this should be one that is regularly checked)
d. Comments field (optional; you can use this to provide extra information, such as a phone number).
Anything you enter into this field will be attached to the record in our database and will be viewed when
we process your validation. This field is also used for communications during the validation process.
9. Once you have entered the information, hit send.
10. The information will be sent to us for comparison against your order info.
11. Once your information has been received, you will see the popup message.
12. Once we have verified your information, we will update the record in the database.
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13. The next time your laser is connected to RetinaEngrave and the Internet, it will retrieve the updated record
info and your card will be activated.
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10. Once your profile has been verified, we will email you an activated profile.
11. Download the activated profile.
12. Start RetinaEngrave.
13. You can drag the activated profile into the workspace, or use the Help menu Open Profile From File.
14. Your laser is now activated.
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1. Pressing Continue will take you to the validation form (Figure 7) that you submitted, with the information
you supplied pre-populated.
2. The Comment field is used for communications between you and our support staff. We use it to provide
clarification on the reasons for requesting more or updated info.
3. Based on the feedback from our staff, update the Validation form and click Send Activation.
4. If the update was successful, the popup in Figure 11 will appear. If you attempted to re-submit without
updating your information, you will receive an error message.
5. Once we have received and verified your information, we will update your record and your laser will be
activated the next time that it is connected to your PC and the internet.
NOTES
If you experience difficulties or errors with the validation process, please contact
support via email and include your units serial number and your order number (if
possible).
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Software
Interface
This section will guide you through using the software
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Overview
RetinaEngrave3D is the combination control software, electronics and print driver that allows you to create jobs and
download them to your laser system. The full control package for your laser has four parts:
A typical job starts with the creation of a design in your favored software. Once you are satisfied with your work, open
RetinaEngrave3D then your design programs print dialog. Select the Full Spectrum Engineering Print Driver, make
sure that the Preflight Check tab is not giving any warnings then click on the Print button. Your job is parsed by
RetinaEngrave and will appear in the RetinaEngrave software under the currently selected mode tab. Now you are
able to review your design, make adjustments and choose the laser settings for running the job. You can start the
job immediately or download the job to the onboard memory of the RetinaEngrave controller (if you have installed
a microSD card). To run a downloaded job, there is an additional step of loading the job in the controllers memory
before pressing go. This is done using the LCD touch panel.
RetinaEngrave3D is a powerful program with an easy to use interface. It features standard keyboard shortcuts, which
come in especially handy if you have a wireless micro-keyboard.
NOTES
The software instructions in this manual are current for Version 4.339
Hovering the pointer over any button will give you its name and shortcut key.
RetinaEngrave, like the laser itself, is mode-based. Please note the type of job you
wish to run (Engraving, Cutting, Design, etc) is determined by the currently-selected
tab above the Job View.
The control panel determines important job settings and allows you to move the
laser head. Keep in mind that each section of the control panel only applies to its
corresponding Job View tab (eg Vector Properties only affect the job in the Vector
Cut tab.
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Using RetinaEngrave
GENERAL USAGE
OPEN RETINAENGRAVE BY DOUBLE-CLICKING THE DESKTOP ICON OR SELECTING IT FROM THE
PROGRAM MENU.
The program must be open at the time of printing from your design software in order to capture the print
stream. Alternately, you can print to an XPS print file while RetinaEngrave is not running and open this XPS file
at a later time to print.
The first time that you open RetinaEngrave, you will be asked to select your laser from a popup menu. It is
extremely important that you choose the correct laser, for example, Generation 5 Hobby 20x12. Choosing
the wrong laser will cause communication errors and the laser tube will fire continuously. If you select the
wrong laser, use the Laser menu and select Change Laser to select the proper unit.
If the connection dialog (lower left of RetinaEngrave) shows the laser as disconnected, make sure the Ethernet
cable is plugged in and power cycle the laser. If there is still a connection issue, go to the laser menu and
manually enter the IP Address displayed on the control panel after boot.
PRINT FROM ANY APPLICATION AND SELECT THE FULL SPECTRUM ENGINEERING DRIVER AS THE
PRINTER
Vector mode will only capture Vector output. Vector mode has been tested with many different vector
programs such as CorelDraw X5, AutoCad 2011, Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator, Draftsight and more as shown in
our demo videos. However, if you have problems vector printing to RetinaEngrave, use CorelDraw X5. Read
the tips on our forums for how to import most file types such as DXF files into CorelDraw. Raster mode should
print from any program.
SELECT THE MODE TAB VECTOR CUT OR RASTER ENGRAVE
Click on the mode tab that corresponds to the type of job you would like to perform. For engraving, keep in
mind that engraved areas should be black. For cutting, colors (Blk, Red, Grn, Blue, Magenta, Cyan, Yellow)
correspond to individual paths and settings. Use the Control Panel to adjust to power and speed of the job.
PRESS THE GO BUTTON TO START CUTTING
This downloads the job to the lasers temporary memory and starts it. The cutting happens in the background.
While every effort is made to efficiently multi-thread the process, avoid memory-intensive tasks while cutting
because the trajectories are calculated on the fly by the software. Also monitor the progress of the cut on the
lower right hand corner.
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VECTOR MODE
RetinaEngrave generates vector information from .xps files directly. RetinaEngrave is capable of recognizing
up to 7 layers of vector information based on line color; Cut+Engrave operations reserve Black for
engraving. All other file types must be opened in their native application or CorelDraw and sent through the
Windows print dialog. Alternatively, print to the XPS Document Writer and open the resulting .xps within
RetinaEngrave.
RASTER MODE
RetinaEngrave can open .xps files and various image formats to generate Raster images for engraving.
However, RetinaEngrave handles 1-bit bitmaps differently from other formats as it does not rescale a 1-bit
bitmap. In 1-bit mode, 1 pixel = 1/1000 of an inch or 1/500 or 1/250 depending on the selected output resolution.
If the pixel is black it will fire the laser, otherwise it does not fire. 1-bit bitmaps produce the most predictable
output. Other image formats are opened with best-effort conversion and up-scaling. You can generate your
own 1-bit dithered images for grayscale effects. There is a tutorial on using Adobe Photoshop to generate 1-bit
bitmaps on the Full Spectrum Laser forums.
ADJUST THE THRESHOLD TO INCLUDE OR EXCLUDE PORTIONS OF THE DRAWING IN RASTER MODE
When working with a grayscale image, adjust the threshold up or down to alter which portions of the image
you wish to engrave.
RASTER RESOLUTION
DPI (Dots Per Inch) is a measure of the pixel density of an engrave. For example, 1000x1000 DPI corresponds
to 1000 left to right sweeps per vertical inch of an image. Higher DPI settings will engrave more deeply as
the average laser on time per unit area is higher. Engraving at 250dpi will be 4x faster than 1000dpi. We have
found that 250DPI works well for most block/vector engraves and 500DPI works well for image engraving.
NOTES
RetinaEngrave does not use a fixed index system: the job origin is the current
position of the laser head, wherever it happens to be. Make sure to position the head
such that your job fits into the workspace and onto your work piece.
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This feature is particularly useful when trying to align the drawing on existing material. For example, if you have
a 4x6 wood plaque that you want to engrave, measure the size of the plaque then draw a 4x6 yellow box this
size in your drawing. Put the text inside this box. Set the position of the laser to the top left hand corner of the wood
plaque and press Start and it will raster the same size and location on the plaque as you have laid out in the drawing.
Printing Size
The paper size within the printing options must match the work area of the laser you are printing to. This is done
at time of printing and is independent of the software you are printing from. RetinaEngrave automatically crops all
whitespace from the image so the first non-white pixel is at position (0,0) in the top left.
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THE WORKSPACE
The workspace is a preview of your current job.
LINE 1
FILE MENU
The File menu allows the user to open up files to engrave. RetinaEngrave supports drag and drop of .xps files
for vector cutting and standard image file types (.bmp, .jpg, .png, .tiff) for raster engraving. Other file types
must be printed to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver or saved as .xps documents.
The file menu also allows a user to load or save a project and settings.
The options sub-menu allows you to save your workspace window setup, set the PC to audibly alert when
a job is completed, enable or disable the keyboard shortcuts, load the last-saved project on startup or log
output for troubleshooting.
LASER MENU
The Laser menu provides options related to the laser unit configuration and communications. It will allow
you to select the type of laser you are connected to, manually reconnect to the laser or manually set the
connection IP address.
The Laser menu also allows you to save the current job and settings as a .bin file onto a MicroSD card (when
the card is loaded onto the laser).
The laser Card Commands sub-menu should only be accessed by direct request and under supervision of Full
Spectrum Laser support staff.
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TABS MENU
The tabs menu allows you to show the 3D engrave tab or Control Panel.
HELP MENU
The help menu offers options to inform you about the version of RetinaEngrave you are using, an Activation
menu (future functionality), and Troubleshooting and Update fields which will open the FSL website in your
default browser.
HELP MENU
Shows the lasers current absolute position from the origin (home; upper right), it is reset to 0,0 when the laser
is homed. The right field is the X coordinate, the left field the Y coordinate.
MOVE TO
The text fields show the saved position read from the controller. The fields are editable, allowing you to
move to a manually entered location. Pressing the Move To button will first move the laser head to the home
switches for reference then rapidly move to the position in the text boxes.
Press the Home button to move the laser head to the origin. The laser will measure the distance it takes
to reach the limit switches and enter the X and Y values into the Move To fields. It will then set the Current
Position boxes to 0,0.
MOVE RELATIVE
These fields command a move by the specified amounts along X and Y using the current position as the
origin. Combine with the Home button to move to fixture points or between fixture points.
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LINE 2
OPEN FILE [CTRL+O]
Open compatible file types (.xps, .bmp, .set, .bin).
SAVE PROJECT [CTRL+S]
Save your current project and settings as a .set file.
CLEAR WORKSPACE
Clear the workspace of the current job.
ZOOM IN [+], ZOOM OUT [-], 1:1 ZOOM
The zoom buttons control the workspace view of the Engrave and Cut tabs. The 1:1 Zoom button restores the
default zoom level.
HOME [H]
Move the laser head to the origin (upper right of the work area). The laser should be homed after startup or
RetinaEngrave will present a bounds alarm when you attempt to run a job. RetinaEngrave has a built-in bounds
checker to make sure that your design fits within the workspace.
PERIMETER [J]
The perimeter function will run the laser head in a box that bounds the limits of your design.
PERIMETER STEPS [P]
Each button press steps through one side of the perimeter bounding box.
LASER HEAD POSITIONING (ADVANCED USERS)
The default job origin is located at the upper left of your design (0,0 in the workspace) and referenced from
the current location of the laser head in the work envelope. The Laser Head Positioning button opens a dialog
box that allows you to change the default job origin between the center of the job or the upper left (2 radio
buttons in top menu division). The lower division of the Laser Head Positioning dialog box contains 9 radio
buttons that allow you to preview job perimeter positions (you cannot set them as work origins). Keep in mind
that the job origin setting is reset to default when RetinaEngrave is closed.
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CONTROL PANEL
The control panel contains 5 sections: Jog, Raster Properties, Import Options, Source Image Info and Vector
Layers.
The Jog section allows you to move the laser head using either the buttons or the keyboard arrow keys. Selecting the
slow jog checkbox jogs the motion system at half of normal speed. The Lock/Unlock button allows you to unlock the
motors to move the laser head by handthe motors must be locked in order to run a job or jog.
The Raster Properties section allows you to set the power and speed of a raster job, as well as the B/W threshold for
a grayscale image.
Import Options allow you to set conditions under which the print stream from Windows is captured. Ignoring raster
data is useful if you are working with large or complex files and only causes RetinaEngrave to only render outlines
of filled sections. Ignoring vector data is useful when engraving images. Ignoring thin vectors will ignore small lines
within a factor set by the tolerance field.
The Vector Layers section controls the layer order, speed, power and number of repeats for each layer. As discussed
in the General Usage sub-section, vector layers are based on one of 7 colors. The Contained Objects First checkbox
determines the order of cutting within a particular layer.
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Engraving
The proceeding sections will introduce you to engraving with RetinaEngrave3D
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Overview
Your Full Spectrum Laser Hobby Advanced Laser System has several advanced functions that make it easy to bring
your designs from your PC into the real world. Engraving is the process by which complex designs are etched into
a work piece or a work piece is marked using an additive coating such as Thermark. Engraving can range from a
simple surface mark all the way through deep material removal. Engraving is differentiated from cutting in that cutting
is the process of burning a closed contour completely through a work piece. The most common type of engraving is
known as Raster Engraving or Rastering, because the laser fires individual pulses corresponding to pixels in an
image. When the laser is operating in raster mode the head moves rapidly from left to right and slowly top to bottom,
engraving your image pixel by pixel and line by line. You can also engrave images in vector mode (Part 9), by setting
the power such that you score the work piece without cutting through.
Engraving works with both vector and pixel-based source files, allowing you to engrave anything from a simple block
logo all the way through high-resolution photographs. The proceeding sections will introduce you to engraving with
RetinaEngrave3D.
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INVERT IMAGE
Reverses the black and white pixels of the image. Useful for engraving on coated materials.
TRIM WHITESPACE
Use this button to automatically remove additional whitespace in the image after using the Threshold slider.
Usage of this button is not recommended; instead, adjust your design in its native drawing software to
remove items you dont want to show up on the output before printing. RetinaEngrave automatically removes
whitespace for all non-zero pixels.
NO DITHER
When No Dither is selected, RetinaEngrave will use the threshold slider value to compute a grayscale cutoff.
Any grays below the threshold will be black and any above will be white.
SIMPLE DITHER
Dithering a color or grayscale image will produce a pattern of black pixels that approximates the original
gradients. Dithering applies a computed dot density of on/off pixels to the image to create a grayscale effect.
The quality of the dithered image preview in the workspace often looks poorhowever, the actual output
engrave quality will be much higher. Dithered images simulate true grayscale by averaging pixel density to
achieve an optical effect closely approximating the original image. Selecting this button has no effect on
images that are 1-bit or black/white already.
HALFTONE DITHER
Like the Simple Dither button, this button dithers the image in the workspace but uses a different algorithm.
Certain images and work materials will often respond better to one algorithm or another.
SCALE IMAGE
The Scale dropdown allows you to scale a design before engraving. Set the scale factor in the field and apply
it using the set scale button.
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DPI Selection
Full Spectrum Laser recommends settings of 250x250dpi for most applications; text as small as 4pt can be engraved
at 500dpi with excellent readability. Typically, 1000dpi is only used special cases. The dpi setting also affects the
delivered power density, as higher dpi settings correspond to a higher number of pulses per square inch. It is
also important to note that due to the focused beam spot size (0.002-0.005in) there will be pixel overlap at higher
dpi settings. This leads to a blending effect in the overlapped areas, which will lead to a darker engrave result on
particular materials (woods).
The dpi settings affect the print processing resolution. The maximum printing resolution is set in the configuration file
and displayed in the control panel in the Source Image Info box. The final resolution is set to the maximum of the
configuration file setting and the dpi selected from the dropdown menu. The default setting is 250dpi. By selecting
1000dpi before printing, the laser will import at 250dpi then upscale the image using a bi-cubic interpolation to
1000dpi.
RetinaEngrave stores the source image in memory and converts it to grayscale before dithering. Due to the large
number of pixels in a 1000dpi image (1 million pixels per square inch) your computer may run out of memory.
Computers with less available memory should select 250dpi before printing because even at an input resolution of
500dpi the memory requirements can be high.
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SOURCE TYPE
IMPORT METHOD
NOTES
Pixels are divided by laser dpi (1000 for hobby). 1000=1
1bit BMP
Color/Greyscale BMP
Direct Print
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If we select 1000dpi within RetinaEngrave and then Raster, we get surprising results. The right image in Figure 10 is
the actual output that is sent to the laser, including the anomalies along the edge. This is the result of direct printing
from a small source to a large output and rastering at a much higher DPI than the project was direct printed at (1000
vs 250).
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When we print at 250dpi and output at 250dpi, we find the best results because import and output DPI are identical
(Figure 13). The software must up-sample to 1000dpi in order to lase, resulting in an image the size of the original.
In order to output at the same dimensions as the source, the software skips 4 lines for every line of output on the
Y-Axis. In this way, no scaling is required and no anomalies are introduced as pixels need not be generated before
output.
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Cutting
The proceeding sections will introduce you to cutting with RetinaEngrave3D
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Overview
In Vector Cut mode, RetinaEngrave receives information from the print stream and interprets it as a series of paths
for the laser head to follow. In order for the print stream to have vector information, the file being printed must be
a vector file. RetinaEngrave is capable of following complex contour paths created in any vector drawing program,
however certain programs and formats are more reliable than others.
Full Spectrum Laser carries out unit testing using CorelDraw X5 and recommends that Hobby Advanced owners use
this program. If you use different design software and run into a problem with the print interface, we recommend
printing to the XPS Document Image Writer or saving as a PDF. PDF files save vector information and are the best
way to carry artwork from a non-compatible operating system (Mac or Linux) onto your Windows 7 PC.
Limited testing has been carried out with CorelDraw X6 and it appears to be a good choice as well. Other popular
packages include Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape and Googles free online vector drawing application. Additionally, most
CAD packages are able to output drawings in a vector format for printing; Autodesk 123D is particularly interesting for
its cost (free) and built-in 3D slicing capabilities.
NOTE:
The Microsoft XPS Document Writer creates images so that they will print exactly as they appear on your screen. Any program that is vector based will have its information embedded as
vector paths (CorelDraw, MS Word, CAD programs, etc) and should work with the Vector Cut
functionality of RetinaEngrave3D.
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VECTOR LAYERS
RetinaEngrave automatically separates vector drawings into layers by color. Each layer can specify different
properties. The Reset Layer Properties button will reset the Vector Layers table to the default values.
Speed: Sets the speed of the layer as a percentage of the maximum value.
Power %: Sets the PWM frequency. PWM power control is very fine. Setting it to 0.5% will mark but not cut
through paper.
Repeat: Set the number of repeats of the layer at the chosen power and speed settings. Set to 0 to ignore
the layer.
Designating Layers
Designating a color to objects/ layers you want to vector cut enables you to take advantage of RetinaEngrave3Ds
ability to specify cutting order, cut speed, laser power and number of repeats for each layer.
RetinaEngrave supports up to seven standard color layers for maximum program compatibility: Black, Blue, Red,
Magenta, Green, Cyan, and Yellow from the RGB color palette.
RetinaEngrave uses a best guess color round off routine when a color is not a standard RGB color. Avoid Black
whenever possible because this is the default color RetinaEngrave uses whenever it cannot figure out what color it
should be. By avoiding Black, you will have more control.
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Workspace Tools
Use the drag handles located on the edges of your design to resize the image. The extension lines display the width
and height of the bounding box that encloses the image. Dragging the square handle will preserve the designs scale.
The small field located on along the height extension line gives the current X and Y workspace coordinates of the
mouse.
Hovering the mouse over a vector object (poly line) will cause it to highlight. You can right-click the mouse to disable
that object in the current job and right-click again to re-enable.
Clicking on a poly line will bring up the workspace editor. You can move, scale or
disable it; assign it to a layer using the colored buttons; reverse the direction of the
path; or close small gaps between the ends of an un-closed poly line (for advanced
users).
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Advanced
Functions
This section introduces you to the advanced capabilities of RetinaEngrave3D
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Overview
The following sections introduce you to the advanced capabilities of RetinaEngrave3D. Some of these capabilities are
only possible with the purchase of extra attachments (rotary engraving). Please make sure that you are familiar with
the previous sections of this manual before working with the advanced functions.
Combined Engraving and Cutting allows you to set up a job to engrave a design and then cut a pattern
The Rotary Engraving tab is the interface for setting up a raster job to be engraved on the outside of a
cylindrical object (requires rotary attachment)
The 3D Engraving tab allows you to take a grayscale image and set up a job that will convert it into an
automatic series of layers to achieve a 3D effect
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Make sure that any text that is Artistic Text in CorelDraw X5 has a Hairline outline applied.
1. Verify that RetinaEngrave is running in the background.
2. File Print using the Direct Print Driver.
3. Switch the current program view to RetinaEngrave.
4. Use the mode select drop-down menu to choose Raster then Vector mode.
5. Adjust the slider on the the threshold setting to fade out/in objects. RetinaEngrave will only raster what is
visible on the screen. Adjusting the slider to the left will fade out objects, while sliding to the right will fade in
objects. You can also adjust the threshold by manually typing a value into the box next to the threshold slider
between 0.000 and 1 and then left clicking on the image. The maximum threshold value of 1 will make the
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image solid black and should not be used. For optimal results first adjust the threshold almost all the way to
the right to a value of 0.999.
6. Slowly adjust the threshold setting to the left until the vector objects that you previously designated yellow
and/or cyan in CorelDraw X5 completely fade out, leaving only the black raster objects visible.In our example
image we found that a threshold setting of 0.96 made the center yellow vector object completely fade out.
The cyan vector border has not faded out and further threshold adjustment is needed.
7. Further adjustment of the threshold to the left to a value of 0.9 makes the cyan vector border completely
fade out. The threshold for our example image is now properly adjusted leaving only the black objects that
we want to raster engrave visible. The end goal when adjusting threshold value is to adjust the threshold to
the left just enough to make the yellow/cyan objects fade out while leaving the black raster objects highly
visible for optimal detail raster engravings.Threshold settings for your particular image could vary from our
example image settings.
When the raster engrave process is complete DO NOT move your material inside the laser cabinet. Both Raster
Engrave mode and Vector Cut mode use the same job origin. As long as the material has not been moved between
the raster engrave process and vector cut process the image will line up correctly on your material after finishing the
vector cutting process.
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Rotary Engraving
If you have purchased a Hobby Advanced Rotary Attachment, the following instructions explain how to set up a job
for rotary engraving/cutting.
1. Connect the rotary attachment in your laser system. Setup and installation information for the rotary
attachment is found in the Hobby Laser Users manual.
2. Turn your laser on and connect to it with RetinaEngrave3D.
3. Click on the Rotary button and check the Enable Rotary checkbox.
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3D Engraving
RetinaEngrave3D allows 3D engraving from grayscale images by automatically separating an image into layers and
allowing those layers to be run as independent raster jobs.
1. Load a grayscale image and then open the 3D Engrave tab.
2. Using the slider or data field, choose the number of frames that you wish to engrave.
3. Right-click on the Auto Generate Frames button.
Your job is broken into a series of frames using the currently-selected Raster Properties. Each frame auto-thresholds
your image by pixel darkness based on the number of frames that you chose. You are then able to do the following:
Set the Z axis offset of each frame (only works with a powered Z table)
You can clear the workspace using the Clear Frames button or Start 3D Engrave to begin the job. Keep in mind that
3D engraving works as a series of individual raster jobs for each frame; as such jobs with more frames can take a
long time to complete.
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3D ENGRAVING EXAMPLE
The following images show an example grayscale input file and the result with the following settings:
40 layers
100% speed
This engrave took about 1hr with overall dimensions of 3.854in x 3.625in. The source file is available at the following link (http://tinyurl.com/fsl3dacrylic). Photos and laser settings courtesy of Bevan Camp
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Overview
The Design Tab provides basic drawing tools for creating simple designs within RetinaEngrave. The tools allow you to
draw open or closed contours, complex paths, shapes and text with a variety of fill options. The Design Tab is project
based, with each project having one or more designs. Once you have a design, you select it and render it to one of
the mode tabs.
Please note:
The Design Tab is not meant to replace a dedicated drawing/design packageit exists as an internal tool for
quick tests and is released as-is. If you are having a problem with the output of the design tab, please use a
standard program such as CorelDraw to create your work and report any software issues to support@fslaser.com
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NEW PATH
Create a new spline path. Select one of the end points to bring up the Shape Properties box and add/remove
points and adjust line tangency.
NEW TEXT
Place text in the design area.
TOGGLE GRID
Changes the visibility of the drawing grid in the design area.
TOGGLE POINTS
Changes the grid format from lines to points.
TOGGLE SNAP-TO-GRID
Enable or disable snap functionality with drawing points.
GRID OPTIONS
This popup menu controls grid display and parameters. The Grid Width and Snap Grid Width fields can be
altered to suit your preferences; units are in inches.
ZOOM BUTTONS
Adjust the zoom level of the design area.
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STROKE PROPERTIES
Control the stroke thickness (pixels), end point shape, joint behavior and miter behavior.
BRUSH PROPERTIES
Control the color and fill style of the brush. Allows you to create and specify gradients.
FILL PROPERTIES
Specify the properties of a closed shape
SHAPE PROPERTIES
Control the properties of the currently selected shape. Set exact size of features.
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Appendix
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OVERVIEW
Appendix A covers the creation of an example job using CorelDraw X5. It demonstrates several steps that are
important to properly prepare your job for printing to the laser.
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JOINING CURVES
For predictable output, vector drawing segments should be closed as much as possible. Many times vector
drawings (in particular DXF files) may have small breaks that will confuse the RetinaEngrave print driver.
CorelDraw X5 has a great command: Arrange ->Join Curves. This will join touching lines into a closed path suitable
for laser cutting. In this example our object is 1 width by 0.282 height.
At 500% zoom the object appears to have all lines connected. However at 6400% zoom on the bottom left corner
of the same object we can see that some of the lines are merely touching and are not connected
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We want these lines to be continuous, so we will use the join curves command:
1. Select all objects you want to correct. Left Click on Arrange/Join Curves.
2. The Join Curves window will appear on the right side of your screen. Click Apply.
The default settings of Extend and Gap tolerance 0.1 should be sufficient for most users.
Here is the same object at 6400% zoom -all lines are now connected and we have a closed path.
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NOTE:
Repeat steps 3 through 6 as necessary to change the outline color of objects, specifying one
of the supported colors for each layer of objects up to a maximum of seven.
In Figure 28 we have changed the outline color of one object to blue. It is possible to have more than one object
the same color. In our example image all objects that have a black outline would be considered to be on the Black
layer in RetinaEngrave and the single object with the blue outline would be considered to be on the Blue layer.
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